Nevada PERS Enrollment Groups: Which of the 4 Is Yours?

Nevada teachers and other school employees belong to the Public Employees' Retirement System of Nevada (Nevada PERS) as Regular members. If you work for a Nevada public employer in a position of half-time or more, you are generally enrolled.Summary Plan Description (REV 8/25), p. 1, Introduction; Official Policies (2024), p. 9, Policy 2.1
Nevada PERS has no numbered tiers, but your rules depend on your effective date of membership: before January 1, 2010; January 1, 2010 through June 30, 2015; or on or after July 1, 2015. If you joined before July 1, 1985, your benefit can reach 90% of average compensation instead of 75%.Summary Plan Description (REV 8/25), p. 4, Retirement Eligibility and Information table; NRS 286.551(2)
Your membership is not cancelled when you leave your job. It ends only with a refund, retirement or death.Summary Plan Description (REV 8/25), p. 1, Introduction
University professional staff who were not already Nevada PERS members are covered by a separate Nevada System of Higher Education plan, not Nevada PERS. K-12 school district employees are in Nevada PERS.Official Policies (2024), p. 10, Policy 2.9(g); NRS 286.802

Your group at a glance

Nevada PERS rules depend on your effective date of membership (the Summary Plan Description's table says 'If you were hired'). Repaying a refund restores the membership date attributable to the restored service. NRS 286.510(1), 286.551(1)-(2); Summary Plan Description (REV 8/25), p. 4, Retirement Eligibility and Information table; Official Policies (2024), p. 37, Policy 7.17

Enrolled before July 1, 1985

Multiplier: 2.5% a year before July 1, 2001, 2.67% after
Most you can get: 90% of average compensation reached by 36 years at most
Unreduced retirement: 5 years at 65; 10 years at 60; 30 years at any age
Early retirement cut: 4% a year early, plus 0.33% a month
Increases grow to: 5% a year

NRS 286.551(2)(d); Official Policies (2024), p. 53, Policy 10.5(a); Pre-Retirement Guide (REV 1/25), p. 12 (90% if hired before July 1, 1985)

Enrolled July 1, 1985 - December 31, 2009

Multiplier: 2.5% a year before July 1, 2001, 2.67% after
Most you can get: 75% of average compensation reached by 30 years at most
Unreduced retirement: 5 years at 65; 10 years at 60; 30 years at any age
Early retirement cut: 4% a year early, plus 0.33% a month
Increases grow to: 5% a year

NRS 286.551(2)(b); Official Policies (2024), p. 53, Policy 10.5(a); Summary Plan Description (REV 8/25), p. 4 (Prior to 1/1/2010 column)

Enrolled January 1, 2010 - June 30, 2015

Multiplier: 2.5% a year
Most you can get: 75% of average compensation reached by 30 years at most
Unreduced retirement: 5 years at 65; 10 years at 62; 30 years at any age
Early retirement cut: 6% a year early, plus 0.5% a month
Increases grow to: 4% a year

NRS 286.551(2)(b); Official Policies (2024), p. 53, Policy 10.5(b); Summary Plan Description (REV 8/25), p. 4 (Between 1/1/2010 and 6/30/2015 column)

Enrolled on or after July 1, 2015

Multiplier: 2.25% a year
Most you can get: 75% of average compensation reached by 33 1/3 years at most
Unreduced retirement: 5 years at 65; 10 years at 62; 30 years at 55; 33 1/3 years at any age
Early retirement cut: 6% a year early, plus 0.5% a month
Increases grow to: 3% a year

NRS 286.551(2)(a); Official Policies (2024), pp. 53-54, Policy 10.5(c); Summary Plan Description (REV 8/25), p. 4 (On or after 7/1/2015 column)

The handbook's tables show three columns (before 2010, 2010 to June 2015, July 2015 on). The July 1, 1985 date only changes the cap: 90% before it, 75% from it. NRS 286.551(2); Official Policies (2024), p. 53, Policy 10.5; p. 62, Policy 10.29(d); Pre-Retirement Guide (REV 1/25), p. 12

The sources disagree: June 30 or July 1, 1985? Check with Nevada PERS

One Nevada PERS policy says 'prior to June 30, 1985' for the 90% cap. The law and another policy say before July 1, 1985. We use the law's date.

Official Policies (2024), p. 62, Policy 10.29(d); p. 53, Policy 10.5(a); NRS 286.551(2)

The sources disagree: 33.3 or 33 1/3 years? Check with Nevada PERS

The handbook and guide print '33.3 years'. The law and Nevada PERS's policy say 33 1/3 years. We use 33 1/3.

Summary Plan Description (REV 8/25), p. 4; NRS 286.510(1)(c); Official Policies (2024), p. 52, Policy 10.1(c)

Your contribution plan

Separate from your group, you're in one of two ways of paying for the pension. Most school employees are in the Employer-Pay plan.

Your contribution plan (Nevada PERS)
Plan	How it works	Rate from July 1, 2025
Employer Pay Contribution Plan (EPC)	Most local government employees contribute under EPC (State employees may choose it). You pay your portion through a base-pay reduction (or in lieu of a raise) and your employer pays the full contribution. You do not accrue refundable contributions.	36.75%total
Employee/Employer Paid Contribution Plan	State employees and some local government employees may choose it. You and your employer share equally (matching rate). Your after-tax contributions are refundable when you leave if you do not take a monthly benefit.	19.25%each

Before then the rates were 33.5% and 17.5% each. Nevada PERS memo, Retirement Contribution Rates beginning July 1, 2025 (Dec. 2, 2024), pp. 1-2; Nevada PERS News Volume I - 2025 Leaving and refunds depend on your plan: see leaving: refund or wait?

Not in Nevada PERS

University professional staff who were not already Nevada PERS members through earlier public employment are not eligible for Nevada PERS. The Board of Regents runs a separate retirement program for them. K-12 school district employees are not in this group. Official Policies (2024), p. 10, Policy 2.9(g); NRS 286.802; PEBP PY2027 Benefit Guide (packet PDF p. 27, printed p. 23, Retiree Coverage: RPA for professional employees of NSHE)

The calculator works out your group from your membership date. See also the formula and early retirement.

Questions

Does Nevada PERS have tiers?

Not by name, but your rules depend on your effective date of membership. There are four groups: enrolled before July 1, 1985, from then through December 31, 2009, from January 1, 2010 through June 30, 2015, and on or after July 1, 2015.

What decides my group?

The date your Nevada PERS membership began, not the date you were hired by your current district. If you took a refund and later repaid it, your original membership date is restored.

Are teachers Regular members?

Yes. Nevada teachers and other school employees are Regular members of Nevada PERS, not Police/Fire members.

Source: Nevada PERS Summary Plan Description for Regular Members, REV 8/25 (law through the 2025 Legislature), pp. 1-2, 4-5, 8. Also: Nevada PERS Official Policies (eff. Sept. 1, 2024) pp. 9-10, 14-15, 37, 52-54, 66; Nevada PERS Pre-Retirement Guide (REV 1/25) pp. 2, 12; Nevada PERS memo of Dec. 2, 2024 pp. 1-2; Nevada PERS News (2025); PEBP retiree publications (Plan Year 2027); NRS §§ 286.410, 286.510, 286.551, 286.571, 286.574, 286.5756, 286.802. Last reviewed Nov. 12, 2026.